Audio/video recording and communication devices in network communication with additional cameras

ABSTRACT

Audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices in network communication with additional cameras in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided. In one embodiment, an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device is provided comprising: a first camera configured to capture image data at a first resolution; a communication module; and a processing module operatively connected to the first camera and the communication module, wherein the processing module is in network communication with a backend server, the processing module comprising: a processor; and a camera application that configures the processor to: maintain the first camera in a low-power state; receive a power-up command signal from the backend server based on an output signal from a second camera; power up the first camera in response to the power-up command signal; and capture image data using the first camera in response to the power-up command signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/872,827,filed on Jan. 16, 2018, which claims priority to provisional applicationSer. No. 62/446,703, filed on Jan. 16, 2017. The entire contents of thepriority applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if fullyset forth.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present embodiments relate to audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication devices, including A/V recording and communicationdoorbell systems. In particular, the present embodiments relate toimprovements in the functionality of A/V recording and communicationdevices that strengthen the ability of such devices to reduce crime andenhance public safety.

BACKGROUND

Home security is a concern for many homeowners and renters. Thoseseeking to protect or monitor their homes often wish to have video andaudio communications with visitors, for example, those visiting anexternal door or entryway. Audio/Video (A/V) recording and communicationdevices, such as doorbells, provide this functionality, and can also aidin crime detection and prevention. For example, audio and/or videocaptured by an A/V recording and communication device can be uploaded tothe cloud and recorded on a remote server. Subsequent review of the A/Vfootage can aid law enforcement in capturing perpetrators of homeburglaries and other crimes. Further, the presence of one or more A/Vrecording and communication devices on the exterior of a home, such as adoorbell unit at the entrance to the home, acts as a powerful deterrentagainst would-be burglars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments of the present audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication devices with multiple cameras now will be discussed indetail with an emphasis on highlighting the advantageous features. Theseembodiments depict the novel and non-obvious A/V recording andcommunication devices with multiple cameras shown in the accompanyingdrawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. These drawingsinclude the following figures, in which like numerals indicate likeparts:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system for streamingand storing A/V content captured by an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for streaming and storingA/V content from an A/V recording and communication device according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an A/V recording and communication deviceaccording to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the A/V recording and communication device ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the A/V recording and communication deviceof FIG. 3 attached to a mounting bracket according to various aspects ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is cross-sectional right side view of the A/V recording andcommunication device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the A/V recording and communication deviceand the mounting bracket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are top and bottom views, respectively, of the A/Vrecording and communication device and the mounting bracket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a passive infrared sensor assembly according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the passive infrared sensor assembly of FIG.11;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the passive infrared sensor assembly of FIG.11, illustrating the fields of view of the passive infrared sensorsaccording to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 a functional block diagram of the components of the A/Vrecording and communication device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system for using asecond camera in network communication with an A/V recording andcommunication device according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram illustrating one embodiment of anA/V recording and communication device according to various aspects ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram illustrating one embodiment of asecond camera according to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram illustrating one embodiment of abackend server according to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a process forpowering up a first camera of an A/V recording and communication deviceusing a second camera according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a process forpowering up a first camera of an A/V recording and communication deviceusing a second camera according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 21 is a screenshot of a map illustrating geographic boundariesaccording to an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 22 and 23 are sequence diagrams illustrating embodiments ofprocesses for powering up a first camera of an A/V recording andcommunication device in network communication with a second cameraaccording to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram of a client device on which thepresent embodiments may be implemented according to various aspects ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 25 is a functional block diagram of a general-purpose computingsystem on which the present embodiments may be implemented according tovarious aspects of present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments of the present audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication devices in network communication with at least one secondcamera have several features, no single one of which is solelyresponsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scopeof the present embodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, theirmore prominent features now will be discussed briefly. After consideringthis discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled“Detailed Description,” one will understand how the features of thepresent embodiments provide the advantages described herein.

One aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization that A/Vrecording and communication devices could be enhanced by being innetwork communication with at least one second camera through a backendserver (and/or through direct connection, such as using a “short-link”radio technology (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, ANT, ANT+,ZigBee, etc.)). For example, the second camera and the A/V recording andcommunication device having a first camera may be in differentgeographic locations, with the second camera providing and enablingfunctionalities that might not be possible if the first and secondcameras were part of a single device. For example, image data from thesecond camera may be analyzed, such as at a backend server, to determineif a person or an object in the image data presents a potential danger.In one example, a person depicted in the image data may be a knowncriminal. In another example, an object depicted in the image data maybe a weapon or instrument of destruction. If a person or object in theimage data presents a potential danger, the first camera may be poweredup to record image data that may include the person or object ofinterest, which may then be used, such as by law enforcement, to capturethe dangerous person and/or to neutralize the danger presented by thedangerous object. In some embodiments, multiple cameras of multiple A/Vrecording and communication devices may be powered up to record imagedata when it is determined that the image data from the second cameraindicates a person and/or object of interest/danger.

In some embodiments, the second camera could have different performancecharacteristics from the first camera, such as different resolutionand/or different power consumption. In one example, the second cameramay be a low-power, low-resolution camera that may be powered on at alltimes, while the first camera of the A/V recording and communicationdevice may be a high-power, high-resolution camera that is maintained ina low-power state. The second camera may then be used in a process fordetermining when to power up the high-power, high-resolution firstcamera of the A/V recording and communication device. This arrangementcan have particular benefit in a battery-powered A/V recording andcommunication device, where conserving batter power is desirable toprolong the usable life of the device between battery charges. Inaddition, the backend server may be configured determine locations ofthe second camera and the A/V recording and communication device todetermine when to power up the A/V recording and communication deviceusing geographic boundaries. These and other aspects and advantages ofthe present embodiments are described in further detail below.

The following detailed description describes the present embodimentswith reference to the drawings. In the drawings, reference numbers labelelements of the present embodiments. These reference numbers arereproduced below in connection with the discussion of the correspondingdrawing features.

The embodiments of the present audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication devices in network communication with at least one secondcamera are described below with reference to the figures. These figures,and their written descriptions, indicate that certain components of theapparatus are formed integrally, and certain other components are formedas separate pieces. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat components shown and described herein as being formed integrallymay in alternative embodiments be formed as separate pieces. Those ofordinary skill in the art will further appreciate that components shownand described herein as being formed as separate pieces may inalternative embodiments be formed integrally. Further, as used hereinthe term integral describes a single unitary piece.

With reference to FIG. 1, the present embodiments include an audio/video(A/V) device 100. While the present disclosure provides numerousexamples of methods and systems including A/V recording andcommunication doorbells, the present embodiments are equally applicablefor A/V recording and communication devices other than doorbells. Forexample, the present embodiments may include one or more A/V recordingand communication security cameras instead of, or in addition to, one ormore A/V recording and communication doorbells. An example A/V recordingand communication security camera may include substantially all of thestructure and/or functionality of the doorbells described herein, butwithout the front button and related components.

The A/V recording and communication device 100 may be located near theentrance to a structure (not shown), such as a dwelling, a business, astorage facility, etc. The A/V recording and communication device 100includes a camera 102, a microphone 104, and a speaker 106. The camera102 may comprise, for example, a high definition (HD) video camera, suchas one capable of capturing video images at an image display resolutionof 720p or better. While not shown, the A/V recording and communicationdevice 100 may also include other hardware and/or components, such as ahousing, a communication module (which may facilitate wired and/orwireless communication with other devices), one or more motion sensors(and/or other types of sensors), a button, etc. The A/V recording andcommunication device 100 may further include similar componentry and/orfunctionality as the wireless communication doorbells described in USPatent Application Publication Nos. 2015/0022620 (application Ser. No.14/499,828) and 2015/0022618 (application Ser. No. 14/334,922), both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties as iffully set forth.

With further reference to FIG. 1, the A/V recording and communicationdevice 100 communicates with a user's network 110, which may be forexample a wired and/or wireless network. If the user's network 110 iswireless, or includes a wireless component, the network 110 may be aWi-Fi network compatible with the IEEE 802.11 standard and/or otherwireless communication standard(s). The user's network 110 is connectedto another network 112, which may comprise, for example, the Internetand/or a public switched telephone network (PSTN). As described below,the A/V recording and communication device 100 may communicate with theuser's client device 114 via the user's network 110 and the network 112(Internet/PSTN). The user's client device 114 may comprise, for example,a mobile telephone (may also be referred to as a cellular telephone),such as a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or anothercommunication and/or computing device. The user's client device 114comprises a display (not shown) and related components capable ofdisplaying streaming and/or recorded video images. The user's clientdevice 114 may also comprise a speaker and related components capable ofbroadcasting streaming and/or recorded audio, and may also comprise amicrophone. The A/V recording and communication device 100 may alsocommunicate with one or more remote storage device(s) 116 (may bereferred to interchangeably as “cloud storage device(s)”), one or moreservers 118, and/or a backend API (application programming interface)120 via the user's network 110 and the network 112 (Internet/PSTN).While FIG. 1 illustrates the storage device 116, the server 118, and thebackend API 120 as components separate from the network 112, it is to beunderstood that the storage device 116, the server 118, and/or thebackend API 120 may be considered to be components of the network 112.

The network 112 may be any wireless network or any wired network, or acombination thereof, configured to operatively couple the abovementioned modules, devices, and systems as shown in FIG. 1. For example,the network 112 may include one or more of the following: a PSTN (publicswitched telephone network), the Internet, a local intranet, a PAN(Personal Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide AreaNetwork), a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), a virtual private network(VPN), a storage area network (SAN), a frame relay connection, anAdvanced Intelligent Network (AIN) connection, a synchronous opticalnetwork (SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3, E1 or E3 line, a DigitalData Service (DDS) connection, a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)connection, an Ethernet connection, an ISDN (Integrated Services DigitalNetwork) line, a dial-up port such as a V.90, V.34, or V.34bis analogmodem connection, a cable modem, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)connection, or an FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) or CDDI(Copper Distributed Data Interface) connection. Furthermore,communications may also include links to any of a variety of wirelessnetworks, including WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), GPRS (GeneralPacket Radio Service), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication),LTE, VoLTE, LoRaWAN, LPWAN, RPMA, LTE, Cat-“X” (e.g. LTE Cat 1, LTE Cat0, LTE CatM1, LTE Cat NB1), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), TDMA(Time Division Multiple Access), FDMA (Frequency Division MultipleAccess), and/or OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access)cellular phone networks, GPS, CDPD (cellular digital packet data), RIM(Research in Motion, Limited) duplex paging network, Bluetooth radio, oran IEEE 802.11-based radio frequency network. The network can furtherinclude or interface with any one or more of the following: RS-232serial connection, IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connection, Fibre Channelconnection, IrDA (infrared) port, SCSI (Small Computer SystemsInterface) connection, USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection, or otherwired or wireless, digital or analog, interface or connection, mesh orDigi® networking.

According to one or more aspects of the present embodiments, when aperson (may be referred to interchangeably as “visitor”) arrives at theA/V recording and communication device 100, the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 detects the visitor's presence and beginscapturing video images within a field of view of the camera 102. The A/Vcommunication device 100 may also capture audio through the microphone104. The A/V recording and communication device 100 may detect thevisitor's presence by detecting motion using the camera 102 and/or amotion sensor, and/or by detecting that the visitor has pressed a frontbutton of the A/V recording and communication device 100 (if the A/Vrecording and communication device 100 is a doorbell).

In response to the detection of the visitor, the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 sends an alert to the user's client device 114(FIG. 1) via the user's network 110 and the network 112. The A/Vrecording and communication device 100 also sends streaming video, andmay also send streaming audio, to the user's client device 114. If theuser answers the alert, two-way audio communication may then occurbetween the visitor and the user through the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 and the user's client device 114. The user mayview the visitor throughout the duration of the call, but the visitorcannot see the user (unless the A/V recording and communication device100 includes a display, which it may in some embodiments).

The video images captured by the camera 102 of the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 (and the audio captured by the microphone 104)may be uploaded to the cloud and recorded on the remote storage device116 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the video and/or audio may berecorded on the remote storage device 116 even if the user chooses toignore the alert sent to his or her client device 114.

With further reference to FIG. 1, the system may further comprise abackend API 120 including one or more components. A backend API(application programming interface) may comprise, for example, a server(e.g. a real server, or a virtual machine, or a machine running in acloud infrastructure as a service), or multiple servers networkedtogether, exposing at least one API to client(s) accessing it. Theseservers may include components such as application servers (e.g.software servers), depending upon what other components are included,such as a caching layer, or database layers, or other components. Abackend API may, for example, comprise many such applications, each ofwhich communicate with one another using their public APIs. In someembodiments, the API backend may hold the bulk of the user data andoffer the user management capabilities, leaving the clients to have verylimited state.

The backend API 120 illustrated FIG. 1 may include one or more APIs. AnAPI is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software andapplications. An API expresses a software component in terms of itsoperations, inputs, outputs, and underlying types, definingfunctionalities that are independent of their respectiveimplementations, which allows definitions and implementations to varywithout compromising the interface. Advantageously, an API may provide aprogrammer with access to an application's functionality without theprogrammer needing to modify the application itself, or even understandhow the application works. An API may be for a web-based system, anoperating system, or a database system, and it provides facilities todevelop applications for that system using a given programming language.In addition to accessing databases or computer hardware like hard diskdrives or video cards, an API can ease the work of programming GUIcomponents. For example, an API can facilitate integration of newfeatures into existing applications (a so-called “plug-in API”). An APIcan also assist otherwise distinct applications with sharing data, whichcan help to integrate and enhance the functionalities of theapplications.

The backend API 120 illustrated in FIG. 1 may further include one ormore services (also referred to as network services). A network serviceis an application that provides data storage, manipulation,presentation, communication, and/or other capability. Network servicesare often implemented using a client-server architecture based onapplication-layer network protocols. Each service may be provided by aserver component running on one or more computers (such as a dedicatedserver computer offering multiple services) and accessed via a networkby client components running on other devices. However, the client andserver components can both be run on the same machine. Clients andservers may have a user interface, and sometimes other hardwareassociated with them.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for streaming and storingA/V content from the A/V recording and communication device 100according to various aspects of the present disclosure. At block B200,the A/V recording and communication device 100 detects the visitor'spresence and captures video images within a field of view of the camera102. The A/V recording and communication device 100 may also captureaudio through the microphone 104. As described above, the A/V recordingand communication device 100 may detect the visitor's presence bydetecting motion using the camera 102 and/or a motion sensor, and/or bydetecting that the visitor has pressed a front button of the A/Vrecording and communication device 100 (if the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 is a doorbell). Also as described above, thevideo recording/capture may begin when the visitor is detected, or maybegin earlier, as described below.

At block B202, a communication module of the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 sends a connection request, via the user'snetwork 110 and the network 112, to a device in the network 112. Forexample, the network device to which the request is sent may be a serversuch as the server 118. The server 118 may comprise a computer programand/or a machine that waits for requests from other machines or software(clients) and responds to them. A server typically processes data. Onepurpose of a server is to share data and/or hardware and/or softwareresources among clients. This architecture is called the client-servermodel. The clients may run on the same computer or may connect to theserver over a network. Examples of computing servers include databaseservers, file servers, mail servers, print servers, web servers, gameservers, and application servers. The term server may be construedbroadly to include any computerized process that shares a resource toone or more client processes. In another example, the network device towhich the request is sent may be an API such as the backend API 120,which is described above.

In response to the request, at block B204 the network device may connectthe A/V recording and communication device 100 to the user's clientdevice 114 through the user's network 110 and the network 112. At blockB206, the A/V recording and communication device 100 may recordavailable audio and/or video data using the camera 102, the microphone104, and/or any other device/sensor available. At block B208, the audioand/or video data is transmitted (streamed) from the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 to the user's client device 114 via the user'snetwork 110 and the network 112. At block B210, the user may receive anotification on his or her client device 114 with a prompt to eitheraccept or deny the call.

At block B212, the process determines whether the user has accepted ordenied the call. If the user denies the notification, then the processadvances to block B214, where the audio and/or video data is recordedand stored at a cloud server. The session then ends at block B216 andthe connection between the A/V recording and communication device 100and the user's client device 114 is terminated. If, however, the useraccepts the notification, then at block B218 the user communicates withthe visitor through the user's client device 114 while audio and/orvideo data captured by the camera 102, the microphone 104, and/or otherdevices/sensors is streamed to the user's client device 114. At the endof the call, the user may terminate the connection between the user'sclient device 114 and the A/V recording and communication device 100 andthe session ends at block B216. In some embodiments, the audio and/orvideo data may be recorded and stored at a cloud server (block B214)even if the user accepts the notification and communicates with thevisitor through the user's client device 114.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate a wireless audio/video (A/V) communication doorbell130 according to an aspect of present embodiments. FIG. 3 is a frontview, FIG. 4 is a rear view, and FIG. 5 is a left side view of thedoorbell 130 coupled with a mounting bracket 137. The doorbell 130includes a faceplate 135 mounted to a back plate 139 (FIG. 4). Withreference to FIG. 5, the faceplate 135 has a substantially flat profile.The faceplate 135 may comprise any suitable material, including, withoutlimitation, metals, such as brushed aluminum or stainless steel, metalalloys, or plastics. The faceplate 135 protects the internal contents ofthe doorbell 130 and serves as an exterior front surface of the doorbell130.

With reference to FIG. 3, the faceplate 135 includes a button 133 and alight pipe 136. The button 133 and the light pipe 136 may have variousprofiles that may or may not match the profile of the faceplate 135. Thelight pipe 136 may comprise any suitable material, including, withoutlimitation, transparent plastic, that is capable of allowing lightproduced within the doorbell 130 to pass through. The light may beproduced by one or more light-emitting components, such aslight-emitting diodes (LED's), contained within the doorbell 130, asfurther described below. The button 133 may make contact with a buttonactuator (not shown) located within the doorbell 130 when the button 133is pressed by a visitor. When pressed, the button 133 may trigger one ormore functions of the doorbell 130, as further described below.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the doorbell 130 further includes anenclosure 131 that engages the faceplate 135. In the illustratedembodiment, the enclosure 131 abuts an upper edge 135T (FIG. 3) of thefaceplate 135, but in alternative embodiments one or more gaps betweenthe enclosure 131 and the faceplate 135 may facilitate the passage ofsound and/or light through the doorbell 130. The enclosure 131 maycomprise any suitable material, but in some embodiments the material ofthe enclosure 131 preferably permits infrared light to pass through frominside the doorbell 130 to the environment and vice versa. The doorbell130 further includes a lens 132. In some embodiments, the lens maycomprise a Fresnel lens, which may be patterned to deflect incominglight into one or more infrared sensors located within the doorbell 130.The doorbell 130 further includes a camera 134, which captures videodata when activated, as described below.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the doorbell 130, according to an aspect of thepresent embodiments. As illustrated, the enclosure 131 may extend fromthe front of the doorbell 130 around to the back thereof and may fitsnugly around a lip of the back plate 139. The back plate 139 maycomprise any suitable material, including, without limitation, metals,such as brushed aluminum or stainless steel, metal alloys, or plastics.The back plate 139 protects the internal contents of the doorbell 130and serves as an exterior rear surface of the doorbell 130. Thefaceplate 135 may extend from the front of the doorbell 130 and at leastpartially wrap around the back plate 139, thereby allowing a coupledconnection between the faceplate 135 and the back plate 139. The backplate 139 may have indentations in its structure to facilitate thecoupling.

With further reference to FIG. 4, spring contacts 140 may provide powerto the doorbell 130 when mated with other conductive contacts connectedto a power source. The spring contacts 140 may comprise any suitableconductive material, including, without limitation, copper, and may becapable of deflecting when contacted by an inward force, for example theinsertion of a mating element. The doorbell 130 further comprises aconnector 160, such as a micro-USB or other connector, whereby powerand/or data may be supplied to and from the components within thedoorbell 130. A reset button 159 may be located on the back plate 139,and may make contact with a button actuator (not shown) located withinthe doorbell 130 when the reset button 159 is pressed. When the resetbutton 159 is pressed, it may trigger one or more functions, asdescribed below.

FIG. 5 is a left side profile view of the doorbell 130 coupled to themounting bracket 137, according to an aspect of the present embodiments.The mounting bracket 137 facilitates mounting the doorbell 130 to asurface, such as the exterior of a building, such as a home or office.As illustrated in FIG. 5, the faceplate 135 may extend from the bottomof the doorbell 130 up to just below the camera 134, and connect to theback plate 139 as described above. The lens 132 may extend and curlpartially around the side of the doorbell 130. The enclosure 131 mayextend and curl around the side and top of the doorbell 130, and may becoupled to the back plate 139 as described above. The camera 134 mayprotrude slightly through the enclosure 131, thereby giving it a widerfield of view. The mounting bracket 137 may couple with the back plate139 such that they contact each other at various points in a commonplane of contact, thereby creating an assembly including the doorbell130 and the mounting bracket 137. The couplings described in thisparagraph, and elsewhere, may be secured by, for example and withoutlimitation, screws, interference fittings, adhesives, or otherfasteners. Interference fittings may refer to a type of connection wherea material relies on pressure and/or gravity coupled with the material'sphysical strength to support a connection to a different element.

FIG. 6 is a right side cross-sectional view of the doorbell 130 withoutthe mounting bracket 137. In the illustrated embodiment, the lens 132 issubstantially coplanar with the front surface 131F of the enclosure 131.In alternative embodiments, the lens 132 may be recessed within theenclosure 131 or may protrude outward from the enclosure 131. The camera134 is coupled to a camera printed circuit board (PCB) 147, and a lens134 a of the camera 134 protrudes through an opening in the enclosure131. The camera lens 134 a may be a lens capable of focusing light intothe camera 134 so that clear images may be taken.

The camera PCB 147 may be secured within the doorbell with any suitablefasteners, such as screws, or interference connections, adhesives, etc.The camera PCB 147 comprises various components that enable thefunctionality of the camera 134 of the doorbell 130, as described below.Infrared light-emitting components, such as infrared LED's 168, arecoupled to the camera PCB 147 and may be triggered to activate when alight sensor detects a low level of ambient light. When activated, theinfrared LED's 168 may emit infrared light through the enclosure 131and/or the camera 134 out into the ambient environment. The camera 134,which may be configured to detect infrared light, may then capture thelight emitted by the infrared LED's 168 as it reflects off objectswithin the camera's 134 field of view, so that the doorbell 130 canclearly capture images at night (may be referred to as “night vision”).

With continued reference to FIG. 6, the doorbell 130 further comprises afront PCB 146, which in the illustrated embodiment resides in a lowerportion of the doorbell 130 adjacent a battery 166. The front PCB 146may be secured within the doorbell 130 with any suitable fasteners, suchas screws, or interference connections, adhesives, etc. The front PCB146 comprises various components that enable the functionality of theaudio and light components, as further described below. The battery 166may provide power to the doorbell 130 components while receiving powerfrom the spring contacts 140, thereby engaging in a trickle-chargemethod of power consumption and supply. Alternatively, the doorbell 130may draw power directly from the spring contacts 140 while relying onthe battery 166 only when the spring contacts 140 are not providing thepower necessary for all functions. Still further, the battery 166 maycomprise the sole source of power for the doorbell 130. In suchembodiments, the spring contacts 140 may not be connected to a source ofpower. When the battery 166 is depleted of its charge, it may berecharged, such as by connecting a power source to the connector 160.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, the doorbell 130 further comprises apower PCB 148, which in the illustrated embodiment resides behind thecamera PCB 147. The power PCB 148 may be secured within the doorbell 130with any suitable fasteners, such as screws, or interferenceconnections, adhesives, etc. The power PCB 148 comprises variouscomponents that enable the functionality of the power and device-controlcomponents, as further described below.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, the doorbell 130 further comprises acommunication module 164 coupled to the power PCB 148. The communicationmodule 164 facilitates communication with client devices in one or moreremote locations, as further described below. The connector 160 mayprotrude outward from the power PCB 148 and extend through a hole in theback plate 139. The doorbell 130 further comprises passive infrared(PIR) sensors 144, which are secured on or within a PIR sensor holder143, and the assembly resides behind the lens 132. In some embodiments,the doorbell 130 may comprise three PIR sensors 144, as furtherdescribed below, but in other embodiments any number of PIR sensors 144may be provided. The PIR sensor holder 143 may be secured to thedoorbell 130 with any suitable fasteners, such as screws, orinterference connections, adhesives, etc. The PIR sensors 144 may be anytype of sensor capable of detecting and communicating the presence of aheat source within their field of view. Further, alternative embodimentsmay comprise one or more motion sensors either in place of or inaddition to the PIR sensors 144. The motion sensors may be configured todetect motion using any methodology, such as a methodology that does notrely on detecting the presence of a heat source within a field of view.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the doorbell 130 and the mounting bracket137 according to an aspect of the present embodiments. The mountingbracket 137 is configured to be mounted to a mounting surface (notshown) of a structure, such as a home or an office. FIG. 7 shows thefront side 137F of the mounting bracket 137. The mounting bracket 137 isconfigured to be mounted to the mounting surface such that the back side137B thereof faces the mounting surface. In certain embodiments themounting bracket 137 may be mounted to surfaces of various composition,including, without limitation, wood, concrete, stucco, brick, vinylsiding, aluminum siding, etc., with any suitable fasteners, such asscrews, or interference connections, adhesives, etc. The doorbell 130may be coupled to the mounting bracket 137 with any suitable fasteners,such as screws, or interference connections, adhesives, etc.

With continued reference to FIG. 7, the illustrated embodiment of themounting bracket 137 includes the terminal screws 138. The terminalscrews 138 are configured to receive electrical wires adjacent themounting surface of the structure upon which the mounting bracket 137 ismounted, so that the doorbell 130 may receive electrical power from thestructure's electrical system. The terminal screws 138 are electricallyconnected to electrical contacts 177 of the mounting bracket. If poweris supplied to the terminal screws 138, then the electrical contacts 177also receive power through the terminal screws 138. The electricalcontacts 177 may comprise any suitable conductive material, including,without limitation, copper, and may protrude slightly from the face ofthe mounting bracket 137 so that they may mate with the spring contacts140 located on the back plate 139.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 (which is a rear view of the mountingbracket 137), the mounting bracket 137 further comprises a bracket PCB149. With reference to FIG. 8, the bracket PCB 149 is situated outsidethe doorbell 130, and is therefore configured for various sensors thatmeasure ambient conditions, such as an accelerometer 150, a barometer151, a humidity sensor 152, and a temperature sensor 153. The functionsof these components are discussed in more detail below. The bracket PCB149 may be secured to the mounting bracket 137 with any suitablefasteners, such as screws, or interference connections, adhesives, etc.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are top and bottom views, respectively, of the doorbell130. As described above, the enclosure 131 may extend from the frontface 131F of the doorbell 130 to the back, where it contacts and snuglysurrounds the back plate 139. The camera 134 may protrude slightlybeyond the front face 131F of the enclosure 131, thereby giving thecamera 134 a wider field of view. The mounting bracket 137 may include asubstantially flat rear surface 137R, such that the doorbell 130 and themounting bracket 137 assembly may sit flush against the surface to whichthey are mounted. With reference to FIG. 10, the lower end of theenclosure 131 may include security screw apertures 141 configured toreceive screws or other fasteners.

FIG. 11 is a top view and FIG. 12 is a front view of a passive infraredsensor assembly 179 including the lens 132, the passive infrared sensorholder 143, the passive infrared sensors 144, and a flexible powercircuit 145. The passive infrared sensor holder 143 is configured tomount the passive infrared sensors 144 facing out through the lens 132at varying angles, thereby allowing the passive infrared sensor 144field of view to be expanded to 180° or more and also broken up intovarious zones, as further described below. The passive infrared sensorholder 143 may include one or more faces 178, including a center face178C and two side faces 178S to either side of the center face 178C.With reference to FIG. 12, each of the faces 178 defines an opening 181within or on which the passive infrared sensors 144 may be mounted. Inalternative embodiments, the faces 178 may not include openings 181, butmay instead comprise solid flat faces upon which the passive infraredsensors 144 may be mounted. Generally, the faces 178 may be any physicalstructure capable of housing and/or securing the passive infraredsensors 144 in place.

With reference to FIG. 11, the passive infrared sensor holder 143 may besecured to the rear face of the lens 132. The flexible power circuit 145may be any material or component capable of delivering power and/or datato and from the passive infrared sensors 144, and may be contoured toconform to the non-linear shape of the passive infrared sensor holder143. The flexible power circuit 145 may connect to, draw power from,and/or transmit data to and from, the power printed circuit board 148.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the passive infrared sensor assembly 179illustrating the fields of view of the passive infrared sensors 144. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the side faces 178S of the passive infraredsensor holder 143 are angled at 55° facing outward from the center face178C, and each passive infrared sensor 144 has a field of view of 110°.However, these angles may be increased or decreased as desired. Zone 1is the area that is visible only to a first one of the passive infraredsensors 144-1. Zone 2 is the area that is visible only to the firstpassive infrared sensor 144-1 and a second one of the passive infraredsensors 144-2. Zone 3 is the area that is visible only to the secondpassive infrared sensor 144-2. Zone 4 is the area that is visible onlyto the second passive infrared sensor 144-2 and a third one of thepassive infrared sensors 144-3. Zone 5 is the area that is visible onlyto the third passive infrared sensor 144-3. In some embodiments, thedoorbell 130 may be capable of determining the direction that an objectis moving based upon which zones are triggered in a time sequence.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of the components within or incommunication with the doorbell 130, according to an aspect of thepresent embodiments. As described above, the bracket PCB 149 maycomprise an accelerometer 150, a barometer 151, a humidity sensor 152,and a temperature sensor 153. The accelerometer 150 may be one or moresensors capable of sensing motion and/or acceleration. The barometer 151may be one or more sensors capable of determining the atmosphericpressure of the surrounding environment in which the bracket PCB 149 maybe located. The humidity sensor 152 may be one or more sensors capableof determining the amount of moisture present in the atmosphericenvironment in which the bracket PCB 149 may be located. The temperaturesensor 153 may be one or more sensors capable of determining thetemperature of the ambient environment in which the bracket PCB 149 maybe located. As described above, the bracket PCB 149 may be locatedoutside the housing of the doorbell 130 so as to reduce interferencefrom heat, pressure, moisture, and/or other stimuli generated by theinternal components of the doorbell 130.

With further reference to FIG. 14, the bracket PCB 149 may furthercomprise terminal screw inserts 154, which may be configured to receivethe terminal screws 138 and transmit power to the electrical contacts177 on the mounting bracket 137 (FIG. 7). The bracket PCB 149 may beelectrically and/or mechanically coupled to the power PCB 148 throughthe terminal screws 138, the terminal screw inserts 154, the springcontacts 140, and the electrical contacts 177. The terminal screws 138may receive electrical wires located at the surface to which thedoorbell 130 is mounted, such as the wall of a building, so that thedoorbell can receive electrical power from the building's electricalsystem. Upon the terminal screws 138 being secured within the terminalscrew inserts 154, power may be transferred to the bracket PCB 149, andto all of the components associated therewith, including the electricalcontacts 177. The electrical contacts 177 may transfer electrical powerto the power PCB 148 by mating with the spring contacts 140.

With further reference to FIG. 14, the front PCB 146 may comprise alight sensor 155, one or more light-emitting components, such as LED's156, one or more speakers 157, and a microphone 158. The light sensor155 may be one or more sensors capable of detecting the level of ambientlight of the surrounding environment in which the doorbell 130 may belocated. LED's 156 may be one or more light-emitting diodes capable ofproducing visible light when supplied with power. The speakers 157 maybe any electromechanical device capable of producing sound in responseto an electrical signal input. The microphone 158 may be anacoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor capable of converting soundwaves into an electrical signal. When activated, the LED's 156 mayilluminate the light pipe 136 (FIG. 3). The front PCB 146 and allcomponents thereof may be electrically coupled to the power PCB 148,thereby allowing data and/or power to be transferred to and from thepower PCB 148 and the front PCB 146.

The speakers 157 and the microphone 158 may be coupled to the cameraprocessor 170 through an audio CODEC 161. For example, the transfer ofdigital audio from the user's client device 114 and the speakers 157 andthe microphone 158 may be compressed and decompressed using the audioCODEC 161, coupled to the camera processor 170. Once compressed by audioCODEC 161, digital audio data may be sent through the communicationmodule 164 to the network 112, routed by one or more servers 118, anddelivered to the user's client device 114. When the user speaks, afterbeing transferred through the network 112, digital audio data isdecompressed by audio CODEC 161 and emitted to the visitor via thespeakers 157.

With further reference to FIG. 14, the power PCB 148 may comprise apower management module 162, a microcontroller 163 (may also be referredto as “processor,” “CPU,” or “controller”), the communication module164, and power PCB non-volatile memory 165. In certain embodiments, thepower management module 162 may comprise an integrated circuit capableof arbitrating between multiple voltage rails, thereby selecting thesource of power for the doorbell 130. The battery 166, the springcontacts 140, and/or the connector 160 may each provide power to thepower management module 162. The power management module 162 may haveseparate power rails dedicated to the battery 166, the spring contacts140, and the connector 160. In one aspect of the present disclosure, thepower management module 162 may continuously draw power from the battery166 to power the doorbell 130, while at the same time routing power fromthe spring contacts 140 and/or the connector 160 to the battery 166,thereby allowing the battery 166 to maintain a substantially constantlevel of charge. Alternatively, the power management module 162 maycontinuously draw power from the spring contacts 140 and/or theconnector 160 to power the doorbell 130, while only drawing from thebattery 166 when the power from the spring contacts 140 and/or theconnector 160 is low or insufficient. Still further, the battery 166 maycomprise the sole source of power for the doorbell 130. In suchembodiments, the spring contacts 140 may not be connected to a source ofpower. When the battery 166 is depleted of its charge, it may berecharged, such as by connecting a power source to the connector 160.The power management module 162 may also serve as a conduit for databetween the connector 160 and the microcontroller 163.

With further reference to FIG. 14, in certain embodiments themicrocontroller 163 may comprise an integrated circuit including aprocessor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Themicrocontroller 163 may receive input signals, such as data and/orpower, from the PIR sensors 144, the bracket PCB 149, the powermanagement module 162, the light sensor 155, the microphone 158, and/orthe communication module 164, and may perform various functions asfurther described below. When the microcontroller 163 is triggered bythe PIR sensors 144, the microcontroller 163 may be triggered to performone or more functions. When the light sensor 155 detects a low level ofambient light, the light sensor 155 may trigger the microcontroller 163to enable “night vision,” as further described below. Themicrocontroller 163 may also act as a conduit for data communicatedbetween various components and the communication module 164.

With further reference to FIG. 14, the communication module 164 maycomprise an integrated circuit including a processor core, memory, andprogrammable input/output peripherals. The communication module 164 mayalso be configured to transmit data wirelessly to a remote networkdevice, and may include one or more transceivers (not shown). Thewireless communication may comprise one or more wireless networks, suchas, without limitation, Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, and/or satellitenetworks. The communication module 164 may receive inputs, such as powerand/or data, from the camera PCB 147, the microcontroller 163, thebutton 133, the reset button 159, and/or the power PCB non-volatilememory 165. When the button 133 is pressed, the communication module 164may be triggered to perform one or more functions. When the reset button159 is pressed, the communication module 164 may be triggered to eraseany data stored at the power PCB non-volatile memory 165 and/or at thecamera PCB memory 169. The communication module 164 may also act as aconduit for data communicated between various components and themicrocontroller 163. The power PCB non-volatile memory 165 may compriseflash memory configured to store and/or transmit data. For example, incertain embodiments the power PCB non-volatile memory 165 may compriseserial peripheral interface (SPI) flash memory.

With further reference to FIG. 14, the camera PCB 147 may comprisecomponents that facilitate the operation of the camera 134. For example,an imager 171 may comprise a video recording sensor and/or a camerachip. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the imager 171 maycomprise a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) array, and maybe capable of recording high definition (e.g., 720p or better) videofiles. A camera processor 170 may comprise an encoding and compressionchip. In some embodiments, the camera processor 170 may comprise abridge processor. The camera processor 170 may process video recorded bythe imager 171 and audio recorded by the microphone 158, and maytransform this data into a form suitable for wireless transfer by thecommunication module 164 to a network. The camera PCB memory 169 maycomprise volatile memory that may be used when data is being buffered orencoded by the camera processor 170. For example, in certain embodimentsthe camera PCB memory 169 may comprise synchronous dynamic random accessmemory (SD RAM). IR LED's 168 may comprise light-emitting diodes capableof radiating infrared light. IR cut filter 167 may comprise a systemthat, when triggered, configures the imager 171 to see primarilyinfrared light as opposed to visible light. When the light sensor 155detects a low level of ambient light (which may comprise a level thatimpedes the performance of the imager 171 in the visible spectrum), theIR LED's 168 may shine infrared light through the doorbell 130 enclosureout to the environment, and the IR cut filter 167 may enable the imager171 to see this infrared light as it is reflected or refracted off ofobjects within the field of view of the doorbell. This process mayprovide the doorbell 130 with the “night vision” function mentionedabove.

As discussed above, the present disclosure provides numerous examples ofmethods and systems including A/V recording and communication doorbells,but the present embodiments are equally applicable for A/V recording andcommunication devices other than doorbells. For example, the presentembodiments may include one or more A/V recording and communicationsecurity cameras instead of, or in addition to, one or more A/Vrecording and communication doorbells. An example A/V recording andcommunication security camera may include substantially all of thestructure and functionality of the doorbell 130, but without the frontbutton 133, the button actuator, and/or the light pipe 136. An exampleA/V recording and communication security camera may further omit othercomponents, such as, for example, the bracket PCB 149 and itscomponents.

As described above, the present embodiments leverage the capabilities ofaudio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices, thereby providingenhanced functionality to such devices to reduce crime and increasepublic safety. One aspect of the present embodiments includes therealization that A/V recording and communication devices could beenhanced by being in network communication with at least one secondcamera through a backend server (and/or through direct connection, suchas using a “short-link” radio technology (e.g., Bluetooth)). Forexample, the second camera and the A/V recording and communicationdevice having a first camera may be in different geographic locationswith the second camera providing and enabling functionalities that mightnot be possible if the first and second cameras were part of a singledevice. For example, image data from the second camera may be analyzed,such as at a backend server, to determine if a person or an object inthe image data presents a potential danger. In one example, a persondepicted in the image data may be a known criminal. In another example,an object depicted in the image data may be a weapon or instrument ofdestruction. If a person or object in the image data presents apotential danger, the first camera may be powered up to record imagedata that may include the person or object of interest, which may thenbe used, such as by law enforcement, to capture the dangerous personand/or to neutralize the danger presented by the dangerous object. Insome embodiments, multiple cameras of multiple A/V recording andcommunication devices may be powered up to record image data when it isdetermined that the image data from the second camera indicates a personand/or object of interest/danger.

In some embodiments, the second camera could have different performancecharacteristics from the first camera, such as different resolutionand/or different power consumption. In one example, the second cameramay be a low-power, low-resolution camera that may be powered on at alltimes, while the first camera of the A/V recording and communicationdevice may be a high-power, high-resolution camera that is maintained ina low-power state. The second camera may then be used in a process fordetermining when to power up the high-power, high-resolution camera ofthe A/V recording and communication device. This arrangement can haveparticular benefit in a battery-powered A/V recording and communicationdevice, where conserving battery power is desirable to prolong theusable life of the device between battery charges. In addition, thebackend server may determine locations of the second camera and the A/Vrecording and communication device to determine when to power up the A/Vrecording and communication device using geographic boundaries. Theseand other aspects and advantages of the present embodiments aredescribed in further detail below.

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system for using asecond camera in network communication with an audio/video (A/V)recording and communication device according to various aspects of thepresent disclosure. The system 300 may include an A/V recording andcommunication device 302 configured to access a user's network 304 toconnect to a network (Internet/PSTN) 306. In various embodiments, thesystem 300 may also include a second camera 310 in network communicationwith the A/V recording and communication device 302. In someembodiments, the second camera may connect to the network(Internet/PSTN) 306 using a cellular network, a public network, alow-bandwidth network, and/or any other appropriate network to accessthe network (Internet/PSTN) 306. In various embodiments, the secondcamera 310 may be used in powering up a first camera of the A/Vrecording and communication device 302 using processes as furtherdescribed below. In alternative embodiments, the second camera mayconnect to the A/V recording and communication device 302 directly, suchas using a “short-link” radio technology (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth lowenergy, ANT, ANT+, ZigBee, etc.).

With reference to FIG. 15, the system 300 may also include a user'sclient device 316 configured to be in network communication with the A/Vrecording and communication device 302. The system 300 may also includea storage device 314 and a backend server 312 in network communicationwith the A/V recording and communication device 302 and the secondcamera 310. In some embodiments, the storage device 314 may be aseparate device from the backend server 312 (as illustrated) or may bean integral component of the backend sever. The user's network 304 andthe network 306 may be similar in structure and/or function to theuser's network 110 and the network 112 (FIG. 1), respectively. In someembodiments, the A/V recording and communication device 302 may besimilar in structure and/or function to the A/V recording andcommunication device 100 (FIG. 1) and/or the A/V recording andcommunication doorbell 130 (FIGS. 3-13). In some embodiments, the user'sclient device 316 and the storage device 314 may be similar in structureand/or function to the user's client device 114 and the storage device116 (FIG. 1), respectively. Also in some embodiments, the backend server312 may be similar in structure and/or function to the server 118 and/orthe backend API 120 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of theA/V recording and communication device 302 according to various aspectsof the present disclosure. The A/V recording and communication device302 may comprise a processing module 326 that is operatively connectedto a first camera 318, a microphone 320, a speaker 322, and acommunication module 324. The processing module 326 may comprise aprocessor 328, volatile memory 330, and non-volatile memory 332 thatincludes a camera application 334. The camera application 334 mayconfigure the processor 328 to perform one or more processes forpowering up the first camera 318 in response to a power-up commandsignal 336 received from the backend server 312, as further describedbelow. The camera application 334 may also configure the processor 328to capture image data 338 using the first camera 318 upon powering up,as further described below. In some embodiments, the first camera 318may capture image data at a first resolution, as further describedbelow. In various embodiments, the image data 338 and the power-upcommand signal 336 may be saved in the non-volatile memory 332. Further,a communication module, such as the communication module 324, maycomprise (but is not limited to) one or more transceivers and/orwireless antennas (not shown) configured to transmit and receivewireless signals. In further embodiments, the communication module 324may comprise (but is not limited to) one or more transceivers configuredto transmit and receive wired and/or wireless signals.

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thesecond camera 310 according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, the second camera 310 may be astandalone unit (as illustrated) or an integral part of another device,such as another A/V recording and communication device, such as an A/Vrecording and communication doorbell. Further, the second camera 310 mayhave its own processing capabilities (as illustrated) or may becontrolled and configured by a separate processing module (notillustrated). The second camera 310 may include a communication module354 for network communication with the A/V recording and communicationdevice 302 and/or the backend server 312. In some embodiments, thesecond camera 310 may include a processing module 340 comprising aprocessor 342, volatile memory 344, and non-volatile memory 346. Thenon-volatile memory 346 may comprise a camera application 348 thatconfigures the processor 342 to perform a variety of camera functionsincluding capturing image data 352 and generating an output signal 350.In some embodiments, the captured image data 352 and/or the outputsignal 350 may be stored in the non-volatile memory 346. In variousembodiments, the second camera 310 may be configured to capture theimage data 352 at a second resolution. The second camera 310 may alsoinclude at least one solar panel 356 as a power source. Similarly, theA/V recording and communication device 302 may also include at least onesolar panel (not shown) as a power source.

In reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, the first resolution of the firstcamera 318 and the second resolution of the second camera 310 may bedifferent. In some embodiments, the first resolution may be higher thanthe second resolution, or vice versa. The different resolutions of thefirst and second cameras 318, 310 may result in the lower resolutioncamera also consuming less power than the higher resolution camera. Inalternative embodiments, one of the cameras 318, 310 may consume lesspower than the other camera 310, 318, even if the difference in powerconsumption is unrelated to the resolution(s) of the two cameras 310,318. For example, in some embodiments the two cameras 318, 310 may havesimilar (or the same) resolution, but one of the cameras 318, 310 mayconsume less power than the other camera 310, 318.

With further reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, the image data 338, 352 maycomprise image sensor data such as (but not limited to) exposure valuesand data regarding pixel values for a particular sized grid. Further,image data may comprise converted image sensor data for standard imagefile formats such as (but not limited to) JPEG, JPEG 2000, TIFF, BMP, orPNG. In addition, image data may also comprise data related to video,where such data may include (but is not limited to) image sequences,frame rates, and the like. Moreover, image data may include data that isanalog, digital, uncompressed, compressed, and/or in vector formats.Image data may take on various forms and formats as appropriate to therequirements of a specific application in accordance with the presentembodiments. As described herein, the term “record” may also be referredto as “capture” as appropriate to the requirements of a specificapplication in accordance with the present embodiments.

FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram illustrating one embodiment of thebackend server 312 according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure. The backend server 312 may comprise a processing module 360comprising a processor 362, volatile memory 364, a communication module308, and non-volatile memory 366. The communication module 308 may allowthe backend server 312 to access and communicate with devices connectedto the network (Internet/PSTN) 306. The non-volatile memory 366 mayinclude a server application 368 that configures the processor 362 toperform processes for using the second camera 310 to enhance thefunctionalities and performance of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 302, as further described below. The non-volatile memory 366 mayinclude the output signal 350 received from the second camera 310 and,in some embodiments, the image data 352 captured using the second camera310. Upon receiving the output signal 350, the backend server 312 maygenerate a power-up command signal 336 for powering up the A/V recordingand communication device 302, as further described below. In variousembodiments, the non-volatile memory 366 may also include the image data338, 352 captured by the first and second cameras, respectively, anddata of a person and/or object of interest 370, 372, as furtherdescribed below.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 16-18, the various componentsincluding (but not limited to) the processing modules 326, 340, 360 andthe communication modules 324, 354, 308 are represented by separateboxes. The graphical representations depicted in each of FIGS. 16-18are, however, merely examples, and are not intended to indicate that anyof the various components of the A/V recording and communication device302, the second camera 310, or the backend server 312 are necessarilyphysically separate from one another, although in some embodiments theymight be. In other embodiments, however, the structure and/orfunctionality of any or all of the components of the A/V recording andcommunication device 302 may be combined. For example, in someembodiments the communication module 324 may include its own processor,volatile memory, and/or non-volatile memory. Likewise, the structureand/or functionality of any or all of the components of the secondcamera 310 may be combined. For example, in some embodiments thecommunication module 354 may include its own processor, volatile memory,and/or non-volatile memory. Further, the structure and/or functionalityof any or all of the components of the backend server 312, may becombined. For example, in some embodiments the communication module 308may include its own processor, volatile memory, and/or non-volatilememory.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a process 400 forpowering up the first camera 318 of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 302 using the second camera 310 according to various aspects ofthe present disclosure. In some embodiments, the second camera 310 maycapture image data at a lower resolution and/or consume less power thanthe first camera 318. Further, the second camera 310 may remain in apersistent powered-up state and be configured to capture image data atall times. In contrast, the first camera 318 may capture image data at ahigher resolution and/or consume more power than the second camera 310.In addition, the first camera 318 may be configured to remain in apowered-down state most of the time (may also be referred to as ahibernation state, or a low-power state, or an off state, or the like).This configuration, in which the second camera 310 is always powered onand the first camera 318 is usually powered down, advantageouslyconserves power, which is of particular advantage in embodiments inwhich the A/V recording and communication device 302 is powered by arechargeable battery (e.g., is not connected to a source of externalpower, such as AC mains).

With reference to FIG. 19, the process 400 may include maintaining(block B402) the first camera 318 in a low-power state to conserve andreduce the amount of power used by the A/V recording and communicationdevice 302. The process 400 may also include receiving (block B404) apower-up command signal 336, using the communication module 324, fromthe backend server 312 based on an output signal 350 from the secondcamera 310, as further described below. In some embodiments, receiving(block B404) the power-up command signal 336, using the communicationmodule 324, may comprise receiving the power-up command signal 336directly from the second camera 310 based on the output signal 350 fromthe second camera 310. In response to the power-up command signal 336,the first camera 318 may be powered up (block B406) and the A/Vrecording and communication device 302 may be configured to capture(block B408) image data 338 using the first camera 318. In someembodiments, the first camera 318 may revert back to the low-power stateafter capturing image data 338 for a predetermined length of time, orafter motion within the field of view of the first camera 318 ceases. Insome embodiments, the A/V recording and communication device 302 may beconfigured to transmit the image data 338 captured using the firstcamera 318 to the backend server 312 using the communication module 324.In some further embodiments, the A/V recording and communication device302 may be configured to transmit the image data 338 captured using thefirst camera 318 to the client device 316 using the communication module324.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a process 450for powering up the first camera 318 of the A/V recording andcommunication device 302 using the second camera 310 according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, thesecond camera 310 may be configured to capture image data 352 andtransmit the output signal 350 to the backend server 312 using thecommunication module 354. In some embodiments, the image data 352captured by the second camera 310 may be used to determine whethermotion is present, such as by comparing pixel changes in successivevideo frames, before transmitting the output signal 350 to the backendserver 312. In reference to FIG. 20, the process 450 may includereceiving (block B410) the output signal 350 from the second camera 310using the communication module 308. In some embodiments, the process 450may include determining a location of the second camera 310 and alocation of the A/V recording and communication device 302, as furtherdescribed below. In some embodiments, if the locations of the secondcamera 310 and the A/V recording and communication device 302 are notwithin a geographic boundary (block B412), as further described below,then the process may continue to receive (block B410) an output signalfrom the second camera 310. However, if the locations of the secondcamera 310 and the A/V recording and communication device 302 are withina geographic boundary (block B412), as further described below, then theserver 312 may generate (block B414) the power-up command signal 336based on the output signal 350 received from the second camera 310. Theprocess 450 may also include transmitting (block B416) the power-upcommand signal 336 to the A/V recording and communication device 302 innetwork communication with the server 312, wherein the power-up commandsignal 336 configures the first camera 318 of the A/V recording andcommunication device 302 to power up from a low-power state and captureimage data, as described above.

With reference to FIGS. 17 and 20, in some embodiments, the outputsignal 350 received at the backend server 312 from the second camera 310(block B410) may include image data 352 captured by the second camera310. In various embodiments, the backend server 312 may be configured todetermine a person of interest 370 based on the image data 352 capturedusing the second camera 310. For example, the backend server 312 maycompare the image data 352 with data in one or more databases todetermine if a person (or persons) depicted in the image data 352 isfound in the one or more databases. If a match is found (if the persondepicted in the image data 352 is found in the one or more databases),then the backend server 312 may transmit the power-up command signal 336to the A/V recording and communication device 302. However, if a matchis not found (if the person depicted in the image data 352 is not foundin the one or more databases), then the backend server 312 may nottransmit the power-up command signal 336 to the A/V recording andcommunication device 302. In various embodiments, the one or moredatabases may include criminal databases/registries or law enforcementservers/databases. In another example, the backend server 312 maycompare the image data 352 with data in one or more social networks todetermine if a person (or persons) depicted in the image data 352 isfound in the one or more social networks. For example, the socialnetwork may include any social media service or platform that usescomputer-mediated tools that allow participants to create, share, and/orexchange information in virtual communities and/or networks, such as(but not limited to) social networking websites and/or applicationsrunning on participant devices. Non-limiting examples of social networksinclude Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Nextdoor.

The backend server 312 may also be configured to determine an object ofinterest 372 based on the image data 352 captured using the secondcamera 310. For example, the backend server 312 may compare the imagedata 352 with data in one or more databases to determine if an object(or objects) depicted in the image data 352 is found in the one or moredatabases. If a match is found (if the object depicted in the image data352 is found in the one or more databases), then the backend server 312may transmit the power-up command signal 336 to the A/V recording andcommunication device 302. However, if a match is not found (if theobject depicted in the image data 352 is not found in the one or moredatabases), then the backend server 312 may not transmit the power-upcommand signal 336 to the A/V recording and communication device 302. Invarious embodiments, the one or more databases may include data and/orimages of objects that may indicate a danger to the public or to one ormore persons, such as weapons (e.g., guns, knives, clubs, etc.) orinstruments of destruction (e.g., bombs, explosives, etc.).

In further reference to FIG. 20, the backend server 312 may beconfigured to transmit data of the person 370 and/or object 372 ofinterest to the A/V recording and communication device 302, the clientdevice 316, and/or a law enforcement agency using the communicationmodule 308. In some embodiments, the backend server 312 may beconfigured to receive image data 338 captured using the first camera 318of the A/V recording and communication device 302. In furtherembodiments, the backend server 312 may transmit the image data 338captured using the first camera 318 of the A/V recording andcommunication device 302 to the client device 316 and/or the lawenforcement agency using the communication module 308.

As described above, the backend server 312 may be configured todetermine locations of the A/V recording and communication device 302and the second camera 310. FIG. 21 is a screenshot of a map 380illustrating geographic boundaries according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure. The map 380 indicates a location 382 of the A/V recordingand communication device 302 and a location 384 of the second camera310. In some embodiments, the backend server 312 may be configured togenerate and transmit the power-up command signal 336 based on thelocation 382 of A/V recording and communication device 302 and thelocation 384 of the second camera 310. For example, in one embodiment,the backend server 312 may generate and transmit the power-up commandsignal 336 to the A/V recording and communication device 302 when thelocation 382 of the A/V recording and communication device 302 is withina geographic boundary of the location 384 of the second camera 310. Insuch embodiments, the geographic boundary may be a perimeter defined bya radius 385 extending from the location 384 of the second camera 310,where the radius 385 may be defined by a user (also referred to as“client”), or may be predetermined. Thus, in the illustrated embodimentof FIG. 21, the backend server 312 would generate and transmit thepower-up command signal 336 to the A/V recording and communicationdevice 302 since the location 382 of the A/V recording and communicationdevice 302 is within the perimeter defined by the radius 385 around thesecond camera 310. In contrast, in another embodiment, the backendserver 312 may generate and transmit the power-up command signal 336 tothe A/V recording and communication device 302 when the location 384 ofthe second camera 310 is within a geographic boundary of the location382 of the A/V recording and communication device 302. In suchembodiments, the geographic boundary may be a perimeter defined by aradius 383 extending from the location 382 of the A/V recording andcommunication device 302, where the radius 383 may be defined by theuser or may be predetermined. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 21, the backend server 312 would not generate and transmit thepower-up command signal 336 to the A/V recording and communicationdevice 302 since the location 384 of the second camera 310 is outsidethe perimeter defined by the radius 383 around the A/V recording andcommunication device 302. Although specific processes for determininglocations of the A/V recording and communication device 302 and thesecond camera 310 are discussed above with respect to FIG. 20, any of avariety of processes for determining locations as appropriate to thespecific application may be used in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram illustrating an embodiment of a processfor powering up the first camera 318 of an A/V recording andcommunication device 302 in network communication with the second camera310 according to various aspects of the present disclosure. Withreference to FIG. 22, the process may include a second camera 310, abackend server 312, and an A/V recording and communication device 302.At a time T₁, the second camera 310 may be configured to transmit anoutput signal 350 to the backend server 312, as described above. Inresponse to receiving the output signal 350, the backend server 312 maygenerate and transmit a power-up command signal 336 to the A/V recordingand communication device 302 at a time T₂. In some embodiments, thebackend server 312 may first determine locations of the second camera310 and the A/V recording and communication device 302 and generate andtransmit the power-up command signal 336 when the locations are withinone or more geographic boundaries, as described above. The A/V recordingand communication device 302 may receive the power-up command signal 336from the backend server 312 and power up the first camera 318 inresponse to the power-up command signal 336, as described above.

FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram illustrating another embodiment of aprocess for powering up the first camera 318 of an A/V recording andcommunication device 302 in network communication with the second camera310 according to various aspects of the present disclosure. Withreference to FIG. 23, the process may include a second camera 310, abackend server 312, an A/V recording and communication device 302, and alaw enforcement agency server/database 380 (or a criminaldatabase/registry or the like). At a time T₁, the second camera 310 maybe configured to transmit an output signal 350 to the backend server312, as described above. In response to receiving the output signal 350,the backend server 312 may generate and transmit a power-up commandsignal 336 to the A/V recording and communication device 302 at a timeT₂. The A/V recording and communication device 302 may receive thepower-up command signal 336 from the backend server 312 and power up thefirst camera 318 in response to the power-up command signal 336, asdescribed above. In some embodiments, the output signal 350 may includeimage data 352 captured using the second camera 310. In variousembodiments, the backend server 312 may generate data of a person and/orobject of interest 370, 372 as described above. At a time T₃, thebackend server 312 may transmit the data of the person and/or object ofinterest 370, 372 to a law enforcement agency server 380 in networkcommunication with the backend server 312. In some embodiments, time T₃may be after time T₂, while in other embodiments, time T₃ maysubstantially coincide with time T₂ (e.g., the power-up command signal336 and the data of the person and/or object of interest 370, 372 may betransmitted at substantially the same time).

As described above, the present embodiments advantageously connect atleast one second camera in network communication with an A/V recordingand communication device having a first camera. In various embodiments,the second camera and the A/V recording and communication device mayalso be in network communication with a backend server to enhancefunctionalities of the second camera and the A/V recording andcommunication device. For example, the second camera may be in adifferent geographic location from the A/V recording and communicationdevice and thus enable functionalities that might not be possible if thefirst and second cameras were part of a single device. In someembodiments, the second camera could have different performancecharacteristics from the first camera, such as different resolutionand/or different power consumption. The second camera may be alow-power, low-resolution camera that may be powered on at all times,while the first camera of the A/V recording and communication device maybe a high-power, high-resolution camera that is maintained in alow-power state. The second camera may then be used in a process fordetermining when to power up the high-power, high-resolution camera ofthe A/V recording and communication device. This arrangement can haveparticular benefit in a battery-powered A/V recording and communicationdevice, where conserving battery power is desirable to prolong theusable life of the device between battery charges. In addition, thebackend server may determine locations of the second camera and the A/Vrecording and communication device to determine when to power up the A/Vrecording and communication device using geographic boundaries.

FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram of a client device 800 on whichthe present embodiments may be implemented according to various aspectsof the present disclosure. The user's client device 114 described withreference to FIG. 1 may include some or all of the components and/orfunctionality of the client device 800. The client device 800 maycomprise, for example, a smartphone.

With reference to FIG. 24, the client device 800 includes a processor802, a memory 804, a user interface 806, a communication module 808, anda dataport 810. These components are communicatively coupled together byan interconnect bus 812. The processor 802 may include any processorused in smartphones and/or portable computing devices, such as an ARMprocessor (a processor based on the RISC (reduced instruction setcomputer) architecture developed by Advanced RISC Machines (ARM).). Insome embodiments, the processor 802 may include one or more otherprocessors, such as one or more conventional microprocessors, and/or oneor more supplementary co-processors, such as math co-processors.

The memory 804 may include both operating memory, such as random accessmemory (RAM), as well as data storage, such as read-only memory (ROM),hard drives, flash memory, or any other suitable memory/storage element.The memory 804 may include removable memory elements, such as aCompactFlash card, a MultiMediaCard (MMC), and/or a Secure Digital (SD)card. In some embodiments, the memory 804 may comprise a combination ofmagnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor memory, and may include, forexample, RAM, ROM, flash drive, and/or a hard disk or drive. Theprocessor 802 and the memory 804 each may be, for example, locatedentirely within a single device, or may be connected to each other by acommunication medium, such as a USB port, a serial port cable, a coaxialcable, an Ethernet-type cable, a telephone line, a radio frequencytransceiver, or other similar wireless or wired medium or combination ofthe foregoing. For example, the processor 802 may be connected to thememory 804 via the dataport 810.

The user interface 806 may include any user interface or presentationelements suitable for a smartphone and/or a portable computing device,such as a keypad, a display screen, a touchscreen, a microphone, and aspeaker. The communication module 808 is configured to handlecommunication links between the client device 800 and other, externaldevices or receivers, and to route incoming/outgoing data appropriately.For example, inbound data from the dataport 810 may be routed throughthe communication module 808 before being directed to the processor 802,and outbound data from the processor 802 may be routed through thecommunication module 808 before being directed to the dataport 810. Thecommunication module 808 may include one or more transceiver modulescapable of transmitting and receiving data, and using, for example, oneor more protocols and/or technologies, such as GSM, UMTS (3GSM), IS-95(CDMA one), IS-2000 (CDMA 2000), LTE, FDMA, TDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA, OFDMA,Wi-Fi, WiMAX, or any other protocol and/or technology.

The dataport 810 may be any type of connector used for physicallyinterfacing with a smartphone and/or a portable computing device, suchas a mini-USB port or an IPHONE®/IPOD® 30-pin connector or LIGHTNING®connector. In other embodiments, the dataport 810 may include multiplecommunication channels for simultaneous communication with, for example,other processors, servers, and/or client terminals.

The memory 804 may store instructions for communicating with othersystems, such as a computer. The memory 804 may store, for example, aprogram (e.g., computer program code) adapted to direct the processor802 in accordance with the present embodiments. The instructions alsomay include program elements, such as an operating system. Whileexecution of sequences of instructions in the program causes theprocessor 802 to perform the process steps described herein, hard-wiredcircuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with,software/firmware instructions for implementation of the processes ofthe present embodiments. Thus, the present embodiments are not limitedto any specific combination of hardware and software.

FIG. 25 is a functional block diagram of a general-purpose computingsystem on which the present embodiments may be implemented according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure. The computer system 900 maybe embodied in at least one of a personal computer (also referred to asa desktop computer) 900A, a portable computer (also referred to as alaptop or notebook computer) 900B, and/or a server 900C. A server is acomputer program and/or a machine that waits for requests from othermachines or software (clients) and responds to them. A server typicallyprocesses data. The purpose of a server is to share data and/or hardwareand/or software resources among clients. This architecture is called theclient-server model. The clients may run on the same computer or mayconnect to the server over a network. Examples of computing serversinclude database servers, file servers, mail servers, print servers, webservers, game servers, and application servers. The term server may beconstrued broadly to include any computerized process that shares aresource to one or more client processes.

The computer system 900 may execute at least some of the operationsdescribed above. The computer system 900 may include at least oneprocessor 910, memory 920, at least one storage device 930, andinput/output (I/O) devices 940. Some or all of the components 910, 920,930, 940 may be interconnected via a system bus 950. The processor 910may be single- or multi-threaded and may have one or more cores. Theprocessor 910 may execute instructions, such as those stored in thememory 920 and/or in the storage device 930. Information may be receivedand output using one or more I/O devices 940.

The memory 920 may store information, and may be a computer-readablemedium, such as volatile or non-volatile memory. The storage device(s)930 may provide storage for the system 900, and may be acomputer-readable medium. In various aspects, the storage device(s) 930may be a flash memory device, a hard disk device, an optical diskdevice, a tape device, or any other type of storage device.

The I/O devices 940 may provide input/output operations for the system900. The I/O devices 940 may include a keyboard, a pointing device,and/or a microphone. The I/O devices 940 may further include a displayunit for displaying graphical user interfaces, a speaker, and/or aprinter. External data may be stored in one or more accessible externaldatabases 960.

The features of the present embodiments described herein may beimplemented in digital electronic circuitry, and/or in computerhardware, firmware, software, and/or in combinations thereof. Featuresof the present embodiments may be implemented in a computer programproduct tangibly embodied in an information carrier, such as amachine-readable storage device, and/or in a propagated signal, forexecution by a programmable processor. Embodiments of the present methodsteps may be performed by a programmable processor executing a programof instructions to perform functions of the described implementations byoperating on input data and generating output.

The features of the present embodiments described herein may beimplemented in one or more computer programs that are executable on aprogrammable system including at least one programmable processorcoupled to receive data and/or instructions from, and to transmit dataand/or instructions to, a data storage system, at least one inputdevice, and at least one output device. A computer program may include aset of instructions that may be used, directly or indirectly, in acomputer to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result.A computer program may be written in any form of programming language,including compiled or interpreted languages, and it may be deployed inany form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component,subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment.

Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructions mayinclude, for example, both general and special purpose processors,and/or the sole processor or one of multiple processors of any kind ofcomputer. Generally, a processor may receive instructions and/or datafrom a read only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM), or both.Such a computer may include a processor for executing instructions andone or more memories for storing instructions and/or data.

Generally, a computer may also include, or be operatively coupled tocommunicate with, one or more mass storage devices for storing datafiles. Such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disksand/or removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and/or optical disks.Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer programinstructions and/or data may include all forms of non-volatile memory,including for example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM,EEPROM, and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as internal harddisks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROMdisks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, orincorporated in, one or more ASICs (application-specific integratedcircuits).

To provide for interaction with a user, the features of the presentembodiments may be implemented on a computer having a display device,such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displayinginformation to the user. The computer may further include a keyboard, apointing device, such as a mouse or a trackball, and/or a touchscreen bywhich the user may provide input to the computer.

The features of the present embodiments may be implemented in a computersystem that includes a back-end component, such as a data server, and/orthat includes a middleware component, such as an application server oran Internet server, and/or that includes a front-end component, such asa client computer having a graphical user interface (GUI) and/or anInternet browser, or any combination of these. The components of thesystem may be connected by any form or medium of digital datacommunication, such as a communication network. Examples ofcommunication networks may include, for example, a LAN (local areanetwork), a WAN (wide area network), and/or the computers and networksforming the Internet.

The computer system may include clients and servers. A client and servermay be remote from each other and interact through a network, such asthose described herein. The relationship of client and server may ariseby virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers andhaving a client-server relationship to each other.

In a first aspect, an audio/video (A/V) recording and communicationdevice is provided, the device comprising a first camera configured tocapture image data at a first resolution; a communication module; and aprocessing module operatively connected to the first camera and thecommunication module, wherein the processing module is in networkcommunication with a backend server via the communication module, theprocessing module comprising: a processor; and a camera application,wherein the camera application configures the processor to: maintain thefirst camera in a low-power state; receive a power-up command signalfrom the backend server based on an output signal from a second camerain network communication with the backend server; power up the firstcamera in response to the power-up command signal from the backendserver based on the output signal from the second camera; and captureimage data using the first camera in response to the power-up commandsignal from the backend server based on the output signal from thesecond camera.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the camera application furtherconfigures the processor to capture image data using the first camerafor a predetermined length of time in response to the power-up commandsignal from the backend server based on the output signal from thesecond camera.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the second camera isconfigured to capture image data at a second resolution.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first resolution ishigher than the second resolution.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the second resolution ishigher than the first resolution.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the first resolution is equalto the second resolution.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the camera applicationfurther configures the processor to transmit the image data capturedusing the first camera to the backend server using the communicationmodule.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the camera applicationfurther configures the processor to transmit the image data capturedusing the first camera to a client device using the communicationmodule.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device further comprises a battery for providing power tothe A/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the first aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device draws less power from the battery when the firstcamera is in the low-power state than when the first camera is poweredup in response to the power-up command signal.

In a second aspect, a method is provided for an audio/video (A/V)recording and communication device having a first camera configured tocapture image data at a first resolution, a communication module, and aprocessing module operatively connected to the first camera and thecommunication module, wherein the processing module is in networkcommunication with a backend server via the communication module, themethod comprising: maintaining the first camera in a low-power state;receiving a power-up command signal from the backend server based on anoutput signal from a second camera in network communication with thebackend server and based on a location of the second camera and alocation of the A/V recording and communication device; powering up thefirst camera in response to the power-up command signal from the backendserver based on the output signal from the second camera; and capturingimage data using the first camera in response to the power-up commandsignal from the backend server based on the output signal from thesecond camera.

An embodiment of the second aspect further comprises capturing imagedata using the first camera for a predetermined length of time inresponse to the power-up command signal from the backend server based onthe output signal from the second camera.

In another embodiment of the second aspect, the second camera isconfigured to capture image data at a second resolution.

In another embodiment of the second aspect, the first resolution ishigher than the second resolution.

In another embodiment of the second aspect, the second resolution ishigher than the first resolution.

In another embodiment of the second aspect, the first resolution isequal to the second resolution.

Another embodiment of the second aspect further comprises transmittingthe image data captured using the first camera to the backend serverusing the communication module.

Another embodiment of the second aspect further comprises transmittingthe image data captured using the first camera to a client device usingthe communication module.

In another embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device further comprises a battery for providing power tothe A/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device draws less power from the battery when the firstcamera is in the low-power state than when the first camera is poweredup in response to the power-up command signal.

In a third aspect, a backend server is provided for audio/video (A/V)recording and communication devices, the server comprising: acommunication module; and a processing module operatively connected tothe communication module, wherein the processing module is in networkcommunication with a second camera configured to captured image data ata second resolution, the processing module comprising: a processor; anda server application, wherein the server application configures theprocessor to: receive an output signal from the second camera using thecommunication module; generate a power-up command signal based on theoutput signal from the second camera; and transmit the power-up commandsignal to an A/V recording and communication device in networkcommunication with the server, wherein the power-up command signalconfigures a first camera of the A/V recording and communication deviceto power up from a low-power state and capture image data at a firstresolution.

In an embodiment of the third aspect, the first resolution is higherthan the second resolution.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the second resolution ishigher than the first solution.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the first resolution is equalto the second resolution.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to determine a location of the secondcamera and a location of the A/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to generate and transmit the power-upcommand signal to the A/V recording and communication device based onthe location of the second camera and the location of the A/V recordingand communication device.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to generate and transmit the power-upcommand signal to the A/V recording and communication device when thelocation of the A/V recording and communication device is within ageographic boundary of the second camera.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a user-defined radius extending from the locationof the second camera.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a predetermined radius extending from the locationof the second camera.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to generate and transmit the power-upcommand signal to the A/V recording and communication device when thelocation of the second camera is within a geographic boundary of the A/Vrecording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a user-defined radius extending from the locationof the A/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a predetermined radius extending from the locationof the A/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the output signal receivedfrom the second camera includes image data captured using the secondcamera.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to determine a person of interest basedon the image data captured using the second camera.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to transmit data of the person ofinterest to the A/V recording and communication device using thecommunication module.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to transmit data of the person ofinterest to a law enforcement agency using the communication module.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to determine an object of interestbased on the image data captured using the second camera.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to transmit data of the object ofinterest to the A/V recording and communication device using thecommunication module.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to transmit data of the object ofinterest to a law enforcement agency using the communication module.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to transmit the image data capturedusing the second camera to a client device using the communicationmodule.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to receive image data captured usingthe first camera of the A/V recording and communication device using thecommunication module.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, the server applicationfurther configures the processor to transmit the image data capturedusing the first camera of the A/V recording and communication device toa client device using the communication module.

In a fourth aspect, a method for a backend server is provided, thebackend server comprising a communication module and a processing moduleoperatively connected to the communication module, wherein theprocessing module is in network communication with a second cameraconfigured to captured image data at a second resolution, the methodcomprising: receiving an output signal from the second camera using thecommunication module; generating a power-up command signal based on theoutput signal from the second camera; and transmitting the power-upcommand signal to an audio/video (A/V) recording and communicationdevice in network communication with the server, wherein the power-upcommand signal configures a first camera of the A/V recording andcommunication device to power up from a low-power state and captureimage data at a first resolution.

In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the first resolution is higherthan the second resolution.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the second resolution ishigher than the first solution.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the first resolution isequal to the second resolution.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises determining alocation of the second camera and a location of the A/V recording andcommunication device.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises generating andtransmitting the power-up command signal to the A/V recording andcommunication device based on the location of the second camera and thelocation of the A/V recording and communication device.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises generating andtransmitting the power-up command signal to the A/V recording andcommunication device when the location of the A/V recording andcommunication device is within a geographic boundary of the secondcamera.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a user-defined radius extending from the locationof the second camera.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a predetermined radius extending from the locationof the second camera.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises generating andtransmitting the power-up command signal to the A/V recording andcommunication device when the location of the second camera is within ageographic boundary of the A/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a user-defined radius extending from the locationof the A/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a predetermined radius extending from the locationof the A/V recording and communication device.

In another embodiment of the fourth aspect, the output signal receivedfrom the second camera includes image data captured using the secondcamera.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises determining aperson of interest based on the image data captured using the secondcamera.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises transmittingdata of the person of interest to the A/V recording and communicationdevice using the communication module.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises transmittingdata of the person of interest to a law enforcement agency using thecommunication module.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises determining anobject of interest based on the image data captured using the secondcamera.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises transmittingdata of the object of interest to the A/V recording and communicationdevice using the communication module.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises transmittingdata of the object of interest to a law enforcement agency using thecommunication module.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises transmittingthe image data captured using the second camera to a client device usingthe communication module.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises receivingimage data captured using the first camera of the A/V recording andcommunication device using the communication module.

Another embodiment of the fourth aspect further comprises transmittingthe image data captured using the first camera of the A/V recording andcommunication device to a client device using the communication module.

In a fifth aspect, at least one server in network communication with anaudio/video recording and communication device (A/V device) and a secondcamera is provided, the server(s) comprising: a communication module; aprocessor operatively connected to the communication module; and one ormore computer-readable media storing a server application comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto perform operations including: receiving, from the second camera usingthe communication module, image data captured by the second camera;determining that the image data captured by the second camera depicts aperson of interest; generating a power-up command signal based on thedetermining that the image data captured by the second camera depictsthe person of interest; and transmitting the power-up command signal tothe A/V device, wherein the power-up command signal includes a commandfor a first camera of the A/V device to power up from a low-power stateand capture image data.

In an embodiment of the fifth aspect, the first camera of the A/V devicehas a first resolution and the second camera has a second resolution,wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to determine that the image data captured by thesecond camera depicts the person of interest by comparing the image datacaptured by the second camera for a match in at least one database.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the at least one database isa criminal registry.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the at least one database isa social network.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to determine a location of the second camera and alocation of the A/V device.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to generate and transmit the power-up command signalto the A/V device when the location of the A/V device is within ageographic boundary of the location of the second camera.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a user-defined radius extending from the locationof the second camera.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a predetermined radius extending from the locationof the second camera.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to generate and transmit the power-up command signalto the A/V device when the location of the second camera is within ageographic boundary of the location of the A/V device.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a user-defined radius extending from the locationof the A/V device.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a predetermined radius extending from the locationof the A/V device.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to transmit the image data depicting the person ofinterest to a client device associated with the A/V device using thecommunication module.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to transmit the image data depicting the person ofinterest to a law enforcement agency using the communication module.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to determine an object of interest depicted in theimage data captured using the second camera.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to transmit the image data depicting the object ofinterest to a client device associated with the A/V device using thecommunication module.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to transmit the image data depicting the object ofinterest to a law enforcement agency using the communication module.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to transmit the image data captured using the secondcamera to a client device associated with the A/V device using thecommunication module.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to receive image data captured using the firstcamera of the A/V device using the communication module.

In another embodiment of the fifth aspect, the server applicationcomprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to transmit the image data captured using the firstcamera of the A/V device to a client device associated with the A/Vdevice using the communication module.

The above description presents the best mode contemplated for carryingout the present embodiments, and of the manner and process of practicingthem, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable anyperson skilled in the art to which they pertain to practice theseembodiments. The present embodiments are, however, susceptible tomodifications and alternate constructions from those discussed abovethat are fully equivalent. Consequently, the present invention is notlimited to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, thepresent invention covers all modifications and alternate constructionscoming within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, the steps in the processes described herein need not beperformed in the same order as they have been presented, and may beperformed in any order(s). Further, steps that have been presented asbeing performed separately may in alternative embodiments be performedconcurrently. Likewise, steps that have been presented as beingperformed concurrently may in alternative embodiments be performedseparately.

What is claimed is:
 1. At least one server in network communication withan audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device) and asecond camera, the server(s) comprising: a communication module; aprocessor operatively connected to the communication module; and one ormore computer-readable media storing a server application comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto perform operations including: receiving, from the second camera usingthe communication module, image data captured by the second camera;determining that the image data captured by the second camera depicts aperson of interest; generating a power-up command signal based on thedetermining that the image data captured by the second camera depictsthe person of interest; and transmitting the power-up command signal tothe A/V device, wherein the power-up command signal includes a commandfor a first camera of the A/V device to power up from a low-power stateand capture image data.
 2. The server(s) of claim 1, wherein the firstcamera of the A/V device has a first resolution and the second camerahas a second resolution, wherein the first resolution is higher than thesecond resolution.
 3. The server(s) of claim 1, wherein the serverapplication comprises further instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to determine that the image data capturedby the second camera depicts the person of interest by comparing theimage data captured by the second camera for a match in at least onedatabase.
 4. The server(s) of claim 3, wherein the at least one databaseis a criminal registry.
 5. The server(s) of claim 3, wherein the atleast one database is a social network.
 6. The server(s) of claim 1,wherein the server application comprises further instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to determine a locationof the second camera and a location of the A/V device.
 7. The server(s)of claim 6, wherein the server application comprises furtherinstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto generate and transmit the power-up command signal to the A/V devicewhen the location of the A/V device is within a geographic boundary ofthe location of the second camera.
 8. The server(s) of claim 7, whereinthe geographic boundary is a perimeter defined by a user-defined radiusextending from the location of the second camera.
 9. The server(s) ofclaim 7, wherein the geographic boundary is a perimeter defined by apredetermined radius extending from the location of the second camera.10. The server(s) of claim 6, wherein the server application comprisesfurther instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to generate and transmit the power-up command signal to theA/V device when the location of the second camera is within a geographicboundary of the location of the A/V device.
 11. The server(s) of claim10, wherein the geographic boundary is a perimeter defined by auser-defined radius extending from the location of the A/V device. 12.The server(s) of claim 10, wherein the geographic boundary is aperimeter defined by a predetermined radius extending from the locationof the A/V device.
 13. The server(s) of claim 1, wherein the serverapplication comprises further instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to transmit the image data depicting theperson of interest to a client device associated with the A/V deviceusing the communication module.
 14. The server(s) of claim 1, whereinthe server application comprises further instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to transmit the imagedata depicting the person of interest to a law enforcement agency usingthe communication module.
 15. The server(s) of claim 1, wherein theserver application comprises further instructions that, when executed bythe processor, cause the processor to determine an object of interestdepicted in the image data captured using the second camera.
 16. Theserver(s) of claim 15, wherein the server application comprises furtherinstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto transmit the image data depicting the object of interest to a clientdevice associated with the A/V device using the communication module.17. The server(s) of claim 15, wherein the server application comprisesfurther instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to transmit the image data depicting the object of interest toa law enforcement agency using the communication module.
 18. Theserver(s) of claim 1, wherein the server application comprises furtherinstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto transmit the image data captured using the second camera to a clientdevice associated with the A/V device using the communication module.19. The server(s) of claim 1, wherein the server application comprisesfurther instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to receive image data captured using the first camera of theA/V device using the communication module.
 20. The server(s) of claim19, wherein the server application comprises further instructions that,when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit theimage data captured using the first camera of the A/V device to a clientdevice associated with the A/V device using the communication module.